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- J 0 P; E. KLEINEBERG sf u. I Rei 21,439 I.

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' a? I :w wmrmw I P. KLEINEBERG tr Al. Sm! 0R SIGIA'IUII HBDI'I G MID GATHIRIIG June 25, 1940.

Originall'ilod-A'ug. 12. 1937f 5 Shoots-Shut 3 Armmvgys P. E KLEINEBER G El AL Ju'ne 25, 1940, Re. 21,4 9 DIR-SIGNATURE mum: Ann ant-alpine h I ori inal and Aug. i2, 1931 5 Shoots-Sheet 4 June 25',-

P. E KLEINEBERG" ET AL 'SHII'l' OR SIGNATUI IB PBEDIIG AID GATHERING mum Filed Aug. 12,1931

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvsnrrohs.

UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE Fail E. Kleineberg, Sohweiser, and Andrew Wilts, Eastom-Pa, asaignors to '1. W. 8 0. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York OriginalNo. 2,163,732, dated June 27, 1939, .Se-

- l'lfil N0. 158,684, Alglllt 12,

7,1940, Serial No. 822,860

for reissue'hlareh 1937. Application :9 Claims. (crew-54y 15 to completion, followed by saddle-stitching: or-

. stapling through the center line. Among the most pertinent prior art structures known to applicants are'the' following. In the patent of Kleineberg No. 2,082,064, of June l,

an 1937, is shown an apparatus and method for outfeeding signatures or other sheets from an upright stack or pile in which the signatures lie horlarmtally and the pile rests on a central support, each first or bottom signature being first 2.5 separated downwardly at one edge by a suction No. 2,020 l of Nov. asinglegrippersetonasmallerdrum.extracting each signature and transferring it around for of hoppers or stacks of signatures desired.

or'means for transferring,- opening and depositing the successive signatures astride the saddle; and the invention includes such entire combination as well as subcombinations relating to the handling of the stack, the outfeeding of the I signatures and their transferring, opening and delivery to the saddle, especially for signatures of thekind having a front extension or lap desig nating the center or opening place.

A particular object of the present invention is I.

to obviate the difllculties of removing the bottom sheet or signature from a piled stack resting by gravity on a bottom support. Another object is to facilitate ,the adding oi continued supplies to the stack. Further 'objects include improvell ment in mode of operation, reliability of action and convenience of control of the respective parts of the apparatus, including the transferring, opening and delivering means. Other objects after following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention or will be'understood by those conversant with the subject.

In the accompanying drawingsrFlg. l is a general left elevation view of a sheet or signature gs outi'eeding and gathering machine embodying the present invention, with certain longitudinal parts and shafts shown in transverse vertical section, the front of the machine being considered to be at the right hand side of Fig. 1, Fig. 1 so shows a portion of Fig. 1 with the parts in a diiferent stage or position. Fig. 2, in similar'lei't elevation, shows a detail of'mechani'sm only partly appearing in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown a in Fig. 1, illustrating one complete unit or section of the-machine and; part of another section, .it being understood that there may be an indefinite number of such sections, according to the number so Fig. 4 is a left elevation view of the mechanism for progressively advancing or feeding the stack. Fig. 4' corresponds with'part of Fig. 4, showing feed control details on a larger scale, Fig. 5 is a similar left view of the mechanism for detaching 4| the lower edge of the first" or front signature in the stack from the succeeding ones. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the mechanism for repressing and holding back the signatures behind the first signature. Fig, 6* corresponds with part of Fig. ii so and extracted by its upper edge. Fig. 7 is a g;

VII)

diagram, showing the gripping action of the lap sr pp r- Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of, part of a typical signature of the lap type adapted to be handled by the present invention. Fig. 11-

. is a view like Fig. ll,showing another type of lap signature.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the mode of upright stacking of such signatures, with a few of them resting fiatwise against the front abutment and those beyond bowed or "Biff.

curved in accordance with this invention, and with the first or front signature partly retracted downwardly and in readiness tobe extracted upwardly. Fig. 13 is asection. on the line "-43 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows diagrammatically anextracted signature being transferred around toward delivery position: while Fig. 15 shows similarly a later position of the signature, centrally opened in advance of delivery; and Fig.16 shows-the opened signature at the moment of delivery and about to settle down upon the signatures already accumulated on the saddle below.

In this specification such terms as front and back, right, and left and the like are employed in a relative sense, for convenience, and are not intended as limitations as to positions, directions and the like of various parts.

The general parts of the machine include the lower frame I! having a base or legs, not shown, and above it an upper frame I! containing bearings for various longitudinal shafts. At the rear of the upper frame are brackets It on which is aloadingshelf liarrangedtosupportsupplies of signatures in preparation for their rear loading into the respective hopperu Various other brackets or extensions of the frame are provided for various purposes, among which may be mentioned a high rea'r bracket II, a high front bracket it giving support to the extracting drum, and a front extension ll thereof giving support to the opening cylinder. Beneath the extracting drum and in front of the hopper is borne the longitudinal main shaft 2|, making preferably one rotation for eachcycle, that is, for each signature fed from the stack to the saddle.

Thacaddlemechanism II maybeofanyknown or conventional type. It comprises a' traveling band or conveyor chain 20 upon which are moimted saddles II. adapted to receive the opened signaturesandconveythemalong. Thechain hasalsooutstanding'pinsorproiections ll atthe' two sides for pushing along the accumulatinggroups of signatures. l 'romthesignaturestackBindividualsignaturesr areseparsted. extracted and transferred to a point above the saddle mechanism, on which theyform groups G. During transfer each signature isopenedup and thrust downwardly for delivery upon thesaddle, in coordinated timing with the travel of the conveyor pins or pushers II. Thealgnature handling or movement is indicated by thedlsmms Figs. 12 to 16.

The signatures are preferably of the so-called lap type, indicated in Fig. 11, the original printed sheet'being so foldedas to form the signature,

-butwithoneportionadiacentthecentermade- 51,4 1 .excesnvely wide so as to protrude as an exten-'.

sion or lap L of, for example, V inch width. This facilitates the mechanical handling of each signature and insures its proper opening at its center before being delivered to the saddle. Fig. 11 shows the 'redoubled or closed back edge s of the signature, and at its front or open edge, at one side, the closed half portion a, and the other half comprising portions; and s, the portions as being the one that is longer than the others and affords the extension L. This is merely representative, as many forms of signatures may be folded with a center lap, e. g., a simple once-' folded sheet with one side or ply wider than the other, or a thicker signature with one extra wide centersheet.

A signature as an element of .a book may be relatively thick or as thin as a leaflet of two plies sometimes even a single sheet is fed into a book; therefore the word signature may be considered in a broad sense to include even a single sheet, except whereit is herein otherwise described, as in having a closed or back edge or portion, or an o'penable edge or margin, or as being opened or saddle-gathered. So far as feeding .from a hopper is concerned this is typically for gathering but may be for folding, printing or other book making operations. A signature may have a head fold, as illustrated, orvmay be of the kind with open head, whether because trimmed or composed of separate sheets, in which latter case its control can not be by suction but requires mechanical holding or gripping.

Havingdescribed the loading table or supply shelf I6 and the receiving and conveying saddle 23, the various mechanisms in between them will next be described in the following general order:

A. Signature hopper or stock holder, loaded from the back shelf and holding the signatures standing edgewise or upright, preferably with back edges down and openabie margin or portion up and slightly inclined frontwardly, and preferably in. rearwardly bowed condition, or mainly so.

B. Stack feeder, supporting the stacked signatures and progressing them frontward, either by gravity on an inclined support, or preferably by a' traveling support movable under regulation toward a front abutment.

0. Signature detacher, for the first or front signature, separating its back or bottom edge orcorners frontwardlyaway from the second agnature.

D. Stack represser, operating behind the detachedpartofthefirstsignaturetobearagainst and retain the second against removal and some- :lhtat to relieve-pressure to ease removal of the I. Signature retractor. grip the detached back or low edge and partially retracts or lowers the first signature and releases it, thus shifting its top edge from or below a top-edge stop there confines the second H. Signature opening and-delivering means,

or transfer .4. Signature hopper The signature hopper comprises certain fixed but adjustable parts. Thus, in each unit, there is a bottom plate 30 at each side receiving thesides of'the back'edgesof the signatures, each. of these bottom plates having adjacent to it a vertical plate or low wall ll. Spaced above the low side plates ii are side guides or walls 32 between which the signatures standedgewise forming a horizontal stack. The side guides or gagesare set somewhat closer together than the length of a signature, so that with thin or limber' signatures,- they, or at least the bulk ofv them, take a bowed or arched posture, with concave side rearward. By this arrangement the bowed 818- natures are stiffened against collapse so that they readily retain their substantially upright position, being however preferably tilted slightly forwardly from the vertical as shown. -'With quite stiff signatures the bowing may be omitted.

The stacked signatures are thus substantially self S pp rting, and they require no pressin member, abutment or stop to be placed behind each added supply. This plan therefore conveniently allows each hopper to be loaded at will from the rear supply shelf without any radjustment of the mechanism. The spacing of the side walls or guides 32 may be about to 1 inch less than the length of the signatures being nan-3 dled, depending upon the dimensions and character of the signature and other factors. It is s'uiilcient to produce the curving form at the lower part only of the signatures, the convexity tapering oil and disappearing along the top edges which may be straight or substantially so, as

shown.

By this described arrangement of signatures bowed backwardly at both ends and set substantially upright within the hopper, not only are the signatures stiffened to hold their edgewise position, but each signature thus has its center of gravity thrown substantially back of its central portion or center of area. This permits an appreciable forward incline to be given to the' signatures as Fig. 1 shows without causing undue forward gravity pressure of the stack. In other words the stacked signatures remain nearly up-- right and lean forward only lightly and without creating substantial forward pressure on the parts in front. which condition facilitates the removing from the front of the stack of the first or foremost signature.

Referring further to the hopper side walls or guides 32. these preferably do not extend frontward to the full extent of the stack, but are terminated substantially short thereof as shown. By this special arrangement, while the most of the signatures are bowed concavely rearward as described, a substantial number of them at the front, from several to several dozen according to thickness, are released from the side walls and escape confinement and bending. In other eases stand in substanidally flattened condition. bowed negli bly or not at all, beingthus separated forwardlyfnim the bulk of the signatures along the side edges, while retaining up and down contact at the middle, and the released or flattened group of several frontmost signatures being confined and held by the front hopper parts to be de- It is believed to be novel to provide a hopper with side members. gases or walls arranged to confine edgewise-standing signatures or sheets so that they take a rearwardiy concave curvature; also to abridge or terminate this stack constraining formation short of a front abutment so that several signatures at the front are free or flat and best fitted forextraction.

In each hopper there are shown, for supporting the bottom plates 3. and side plates 3| and 32 a pair of opposite carriages II in the form of I imately near. but preferably somewhat below the middle of the frontmost signature is a front abutment or main stop plate I. mounted on a stationary horizontal longitudinal bar 39, these-in effect constituting the front member or wall of the hopper, but being abridged above and below to permit the detaching, retracting, separating and extracting operations to be described. The main or front abutment "Il may extend horizontally the full front width of the hopper and is shown set 'at'a slight frontward incline from the vertical, so that the signatures assume the same incline for the reasons already explained. It, receives the slight stack forward pressure at the middle of the front signature.

Above. and in line with thejabutment 38- is a signature top edge front stop plate 4| mounted on a longitudinal bar 62, the bar being above the top edge of the signatures but the stop plate extending down adjustably to overlap slightly and give front support to the top portion of the sisnature stack. The bar 42 is shown as carrying also an adjustable fixed gage or guard plate 43 overlying the top edges of the frontmost sign tures, confining them vertically and ensuring that the second signature can not be shifted upwardly with the first.

Also in substantial line with the stop plate ll and abutment ll isa feeler member or gage which registers with the front position of the lower edge of the flrstor front signature near its center, this member being movable and employed to regulate the feed scribed.

,8. Stock feeder The signature stack 8 in each hopper is not ofthestackaswillbede-- fed down by gravity as in the Kleineberg patent, but must beadvanced progressively frontward during operation to bring the signatures succesbelt 45 preferably centrally arranged in each unit ed on a carriage 41 supported removably on the axles II and SI. The stack belt or hand ll may pass around front and rear pulleys 4! and Ill, and it may be deflected by means of front and rear idler pulleys Ii and i2, and the slack taken up by a device il The hopper bottom belt is representative of any means to progress frontwardly the stacked upright signatures; it being a supporting member transmitting the feed action to the stack, and

while a jogging feed may serve, a frontward travel is preferred. I

The gradual frontward advance of the stack belt may be effected from the shaft 64 carrying the front pulley .49, as separately shown in Fig. 4, this drive mechanism being independent for each unit of the machine. The shaft 54 is mounted on the carriage l1 and carries a ratchet wheel 55 having fine teethfor short intermittent forward movements. The ratchet may be advanced by one tooth at a time by means of a pawl 56 pivoted upon a rockarm IT and pulled toward the ratchet by a spring ii. The hub of arm 51 carries also a second arm or cam lever SI which is pulled by a spring I to hold its free or following end against an open cam 8| mounted on the main shaft 2|. The lever 51-" is fulcrumed on a longitudinal axle l2.

By these driveconnections each turn of the stack feed cam 6| oscillates the pawl 56 to advance the pulley l9 and belt I, thus moving the signature stack bodily frontward. Since this movement must keep pace with the removal of signatures from the front of the stack the following feed regulating means'is. shown. Between the main pawl 56 and ratchet 55 is shown a guard finger or shading pawl I, adapted to overlie a ratchet tooth and prevent engagement thereof by the main pawl, so that when the guard is moved inward the stack feed ceases. The guard is carried on an arm ll pivoted at I on the carriage l1 and having an upwardly extending arm it pulled rearward by a light spring" and having at its top end a feeler or gage [I preferably in the form of a roller over which the lower edge of the' first signature may be frontwardly detached;

By this device, when the stack is fed frontward, it contacts and thrusts frontwardly the lightly mounted and easily yielding feeler ll, thus thrusting the guard 03 into position and rendering inoperative the feed. The feed will resume with the removal of a few signatures.

When the. hopper is empty the feeler lever ll-l6 bears against the front endof the feed carriage l'l. H

Adjacent to these parts is shown a member ll having an upstanding finger or hook for assisting'in the operation of detachingsignatures that C. Signature dctacher thus completed the description of the hopper and the devices feeding the signature stack there will next be described the devices operating to remove the individual signatures and, firstly, the devices acting upon the lower edge of the front signature, commencing with the detaching or lower separating device.

The signature detacher may be of the conventional suction type similar in general to that in said Kleineberg patent. It comprises two or more, suction cups operating upon the front signature at its lower front edge, preferably at points near the middle of the edg'eand adjacent to the retracting grippers to be described. The separator hooks Ill aid this operation.

Each suction piece or detacher 15 may be mounted on a hollow arm I6 swinging on a hollow bracket 11 having pneumatic connections not shown, but timed to apply and release the suction in coordination with the back'and front swinging movements of the detacher. Above the bracket 11 is an upper arm I8, see Fig. 5, to which is pivoted a link or slide I9 yoked to straddle the main shaft 2| and having a follower 80 engaging the cam'groove ill in a cam disk 82 on the main shaft. This cam in each cycle gives the necessary back and front swinging movements of the detacher at each side by which the front signature lower edge is engaged and swung frontwardly to detach it away from the second signature as shown in position to permit the stack repressing device to operate behind the detached signature and to permit the retracting device to grip and lower the signature.

D. vStack: represser downward with the first signature; and this arrangement at the same time reducing the pressure or friction on the first signature and facilitating its retraction and extraction.

Each of the repressing fingers 85 is shown mounted on a lever 88 which carries a roller 81 by fore cause the represser lever and finger to shift backwardly and frontwardly. .The roller 81 is shown resting upon a straight surface or fixed cam dwell 93 which holds the lever up and the finger in repressing position. A spring 94 holds the lever and roller down upon the dwell. Forward of the dwell is aninclined surface 95. The surfaces it, 96 are formed on a fixed member or bracket 06. From this description it will be clear that when the cam 9| has allowed arm 90 to swing down, the arm I! will havethrust frontwardly the lever I and thus cause the roller 01 to pass from the dwell surface "to the incline 95, thus moving forward and lowering the repressing finger to await the detaching of the next succeeding signature. As soon as another signature is detached at its lower edge the levers I are thrust rearward causing the two fingers "to rise and press rearwardly upon the signature behind the front one.

E. Signature reiractor The signature retractor next grips and pulls partly down by its lower edge the first signature.

thus to release its top edge from the front stop ll, seel'igs. l and 7. A rock shaft 08 carries the retracting grippers for a number or all of the hoppers. At each hopper on the rock shaft is a hub and arm so or a pair of them on which are mounted two grippers meet each side, to grip and retract the signature. Each gripper comprises a relatively fixed jaw Hit]. and a swingable or openable jaw Ill. One, as II, is shown in the form of a segment, concentric with the rock shaft.

. The gripper rocks bodily into the elevated posicooperating arm I.

tion shown in Fig. 7 and down to the lowered position of Fig. 1. III is pivoted at ill to the arm 99 to swing slightly between signature gripping and releasing positions. To rock the shaft 88 it is provided with a rock arm I03 actuated by a yoked link or slide I, straddling the main shaft 2| 'for guidance and carrying a follower I" engaging in the roove "It of a cam disk ill! on the main shaft. By this arrangement the cam I06 swings the gripper bodily between signature engaging position and retracted or lowered position.

It is an advantage to have the rear jaw llll relatively fixed and short, while the front jaw it. is pivoted for the opening and closing and has substantial length, curved concentrically with the bodily swing of the gripper. Not only is the mechanical actuation improved by this arrangement but the signature is more reliably picked from the suction detacher.

For opening and closing the retracting gripper I", III, its movable jaw or finger III is provided, beyond its pivot, witha tail or extension I" having.an outer, or lower contour substan-. tially concentric with the gripper rockshaft 98.

The gripper tail is acted upon by a spring ill which presses the tail in a direction normally to open the Jaw to a suitably limited position.

To close the gripper the concentric jaw tall I is shown engaged by a roller Ill carried on a lever arm III, the hub Ill of which is mounted loosely onan axle lll,'these parts so arranged that by rocking the hub and lever the gripper tail may be swung and the gripper closed or allowed to open, in any position of the gripper. Connections for closing the gripper may be as oilows. Attached to the hub of arm H2 is a epending arm ill and alongside of this is a The arms II! for all the hoppers may be fast on the axle Ill, now acting as a .rockshaft. Connected with the arm ill or fast on the rockshaft is a rockarm ill swung by "a yoked link or slide III which straddles the main shaft 2i and carries a follower lit engaged in the cam groove I" of a disk camfli on the main shaft. v

To cushion the grlppingaction and aiford a yield in the gripping of each signature there is shown a strong spring I connecting the arms Ill and H0, tending to hold them together under the limit of a set screw or stop device I". By thisarrangement when the cam illswings the arms I". and III to the front this acts through springl. to swing the lever III upwardly so. that the roller iii presses the tail of the mi Jawll'l to close the gripper with 1 moderate pressure on the signature. This yield jogging action which is desirable.

The movable gripper Jaw or finger ness along the length of the machine, all operated fromthesamerockshaft. Italsopresentsex-- cessive .or destructive gripp n Pressure by reason of thespring cushion for each gripper.

The two cams II. and I" therefore determine completely the retracting gripper action, the two grippers at each hopper rising, e the detached lower edge of the first signature, closing upon the signature, swinging downward to retract partly the signature, and there releasing it for upward extraction by mechanism yet to be described.

The described retracting mechanism. best shown in Fig. 7 affords a signature alining or Thisis by reason of the shoulder formed at the upper side of the retracting, jaw I", flgainst which the bottom edge of the signature is seen to contact. This shoulder is so'arranged that, on each rise of the gripper [00, ill the shoulder will always engage the bottom edge of' the signature. In other words, even if the signature may be slightly too high in the hopper, nevertheless the shoulder will reach up to the signature, and a signature which is correctly positioned will thus be slightly buckled or bulged as the gripper rises to position. The result .of this action is that the lower edge of the gripper is always accurately positioned for the retracting action and for all subsequent actions, and since this lower edge is the closed or back edge of the signature it follows thatthe signatures will be uniformly handled in their retraction, extraction, and delivery to the gathering means.

F. Signature separator the stop plate 41, as Fig.1 shows, the separator is readily able, by a light pressure agaimt the second signature, to slide down between them as shown. When fully elevated fora new operation as in Fig. 1' the separator or deflector preferably I has its lower edge resting upon the stop plate II, from which it slides down in the next separating operation. A single separator. near the center may sumoe for effectively deflecting frontward the entire top portion of the signature to be ex tracted. Each hopper has such a separator.

The connections and operation of the separator it. may be as follows. It is shown pivoted at III sary that the separator should swing on its pivot The separator is shown provided with a follower stud or roll ill which under proper control.

engages a fixed cam I mounted on the bar 42 and of such contour that the separators up and down movements cause theproper. swinging movements. The cam I42 is preferably an open cam and a light spring I" is provided to hold the follower to the cam, for example a coil spring at thepivot Ill, affording a light rearward pressure.

The separator works in the gap between" the abutment and top edge stop. It stands at a slant so that its lower edge or nose represses the second signature and readily enters behind the first, which thus is deflected frontwardly to the extractor, the upper edge of the abutment being bent to correspond.

G. Signature extract drum is driven at uniform speed through a gear I" carried by its shaft engaging a gear I on the main shaft 2|. This gearing is shown in the ratio of'i to 2, and the drum having two complete sets of grippers, at opposite points of its periphery, there is thus afi'orded one extracting action per cycle; but manifestly the drum could be geared 1 to 1 with a single set of grippers or 1 to 3 with three sets, etc. The grippers Ill may be operated to separate and deflect the front signature, thus acting as both separator and extractor, but' for reliable operation the separator I" also is preferred.

Of course there are to be a series of drums III on shaft 6, one for each hopper, and gripping, openingand associated devices for each drum; and this is to be understood in the further description.

H. Opening and delivering means shaft III, with two idler gears IS! in train bev tween the gm I" and gear III to produce the same downward direction of peripheral movement above the saddle 23.

When the extracting drum grippers or mechanical holders I engage each signature the 'drum pulls the signature up and out of the hopper 'and around frontward and thence down between the drum and cylinder, to be there opened and delivered upon the saddle; see Figs. 14 to- 16. To maintain each signature in firm contact upon the drum Ill duringthis travel there are shown endless tapes illpassing around a substantial part of the-extracting drum periphery between extracting and delivering positions, the tapes thence shifting from the drum over to the opening cylinder III and thence around part of the cylinder and back and around an idler pulley I", located above the drum. In order to take up slack in the tape the puller in is shown mounted on a take-up lever I51 pulled by a spring I" and mounted on a bracket iil keyed to a longitudinal frame rod i". The tapes constitute a holding means for the entire thickness 2 of the signature, releasing it for delivery as the tapes pass from drum to cylinder.

While the transfer of the procession of extracted signatures may be to a more remote opening point, preferably the same drum I" which ex-' tracts them carries them directly to a nearby place of opening and delivery, thus simplifying and condensing the apparatus; the dfum'carrying not only the extracting grippers I but mechanical means I85 to hold to'it one half of each signature while the opening means diverts the other half.

The general operation of transfer of the extracted signature and its opening and delivering may be as follows. The signature travels around the drum with its top or open edge in advance, this having the lap portion L determining the middle of the signature. The half 3?, s of the signature that includes'the lap is inside, against the drum, and the other or closed mm s is at the outside. The extracting and transferring grippers grasp both halves, but there are also auxiliary or' lap grippers engaging or holding to the drum only the lap halfof the signature, and which are closed at the extraction point or between it and opening point. When each signature reaches about the point of tangency or nearest approach of the cylinder and drum" the extracting grippers open to free the outer half of the signature or that which does not contain the lap, the lapgripper however continuing to hold the lap half of ,the signature to the drum. The next step is to engage the non-lap half of the signature on the revoluble opening cylinder, thus to open centrally,

the signature; this being permitted by the switch across of the tapes from the drum to the cylinder. carries a mechanical pulling device or gripper fit,

or pair of them, which engages and grasps the non-lap signature half which has been released from the main drum. Thus beyond or below the point of tangency the twohalves of the signature' are caused to travel divergingly, held on the drum and on the carrier or cylinder by grippers I" and II. This action however continues pref- .erabiy for only a short further travel, just'long enough to start the spreading or'opening action For such purpose the opening cylinder above the saddle, the grippers then releasing the signature, which is carried further by the drum and tapes and finally settles down properly upon the saddle. The extracting drum I" being of double diameter carries two complete sets of grippers, one set at each side of its circumference. Each set comprises a symmetrical pair of extracting grippers Ill and a symmetrical pair of lab pp rs I", each of these grippers being shown in the form of fingers or stout strips bent to shape, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and a to rot It will be noticed that each main or extracting gripper is substantially longer than or extends beyond the adjacent lap gripper, being thus enabled to reach be-' low the top edge of each signature to an extent togripallportionsorpliesasl'lg. 1 shows. On

the other hand the lap gripper, being relatively 76 theshort, is able to engage only the lap L of signature and thus confine only the inner-or lap half of the signature to the drum. Preferably the gri p rs do not confine the signature directly against the peripheries of drum sections I", but are provided with special seats located symmetrically outside of or further apart than the drum sections; the main gripper seats I" being adjacent to the outer sides of the disks and the lap gripper seats Ill being still further outwardly, as Figs. 3 and 9 best'show. A desirable distinction between the seats for the respective grippers is that the seat I" for each main gripper II! is located substantially in alinement with the cylindrical surface of the drum so that when each sheet is gripped between the main gripper parts I" and IQ'I this is without distortion or deflection of the signature; whereas as will be ex- ,plained further on Figs. 8,1, 9 and 9, the seatn'i'l for the lap gripper I" is inset substantially below the cylindrical surface, thus causing inward deflection of the inner or lap half of the signature at the location of each lap gripper, and thus producing a recess between the two halves of the signature well adapted to accommodate the gripper of the opening cylinder to be described.

Each main or extracting gripper I65 is shown as a metal strip or bar bent or curved in a shape to clear adiacent parts. The shank end of the main gripperls mounted or attached upon a rocking collar or block I89. These blocks at the two sides are symmetrically attached to a rock shaft or sleeve I'll turning in a bearing sleeve or cross member I constituting part of the drum. The block or collar I69 also has gear teeth I'll at its left end, thus constituting of it a pinion through which the two blocks and the shaft I'lll may be oscillated, namely by a rack I12, to close and open the main gripper. The rack is shown mounted on a rockarm I'll turning loosely on a long bearing stud I'll, and its hub having also a second rockarm which may be thrust outwardly for closing the main gripper.

The main gripper closing is preferably performed by a cushion or spring device determining the gripper pressure, opposed by cam means for opening the gripper. For this purpose the rockarm I'll has pivoted to it a hollow member I" constituting part of a swinging link, completed by a rod I'l'l. A strong helical spring I18 is confined on the rodunder compression between the surrounding link part I'll and at the other 'end a bushing or collar I19 in which slides the rod part of the link. The bushing is threaded into a socket III which is swivelled, ,thus allowing for the swinging movements of the arm I and link. By turning the collar II! the pressure is adjustable.

The spring I18 thereby efi'ects the closing of both of the main grippers I" through the described train of parts I'li to I". -For opening the main grippers and allowing their closing in propertiming there is shown a follower or roll III on the rockarm Ill, this bearing, against the periphery of a 'fixedcam or disk Ill. By the shape of the cam Ill therefore, as the gripper mechanism travels around it, with the follower Ill running on the cam, it causes the gripper to open widow, and then at gri ping position, as-

in Pig. 1, to close completely upon the top margin of the deflected signature, the gripper remaining closed until, before reaching signature opening position, the cam Ill causes it to relax or lift sufliciently to release the signature, leaving the only partly by the lap srippen.

.tion in Figs. 1, 3 and 16 and'in closed III is threaded into a swivelsocket 202.

spring stress and the signature at the gripping places. The left gripper III of each set is secured to .aclamp collar III and the right gripper to a clamp collar III both of these collars secured to a rockshaft It turning in the drum bearings outwards grippers close or open, being shown in open posi- Figs, -l, 3, 8 to 10 and 15. I

Preferably each-lap gripper and its seat are inclined or bevelled to accommodate the bend of the signature beyond each drum disk I 45, as the left and bottom view diagrams of Figs. 8* and 9 show. Thus the lap half L is deflected below the periphery from the seat It'l to the edge of the signature,while the non-lap half 8 retains its circumferential form, making a substantial gap between the two halves to receive the opening flipper III.

For effecting the lap gripper closing and opening movements, the right collar I9I is provided with pinion teeth I 93 these engaging an idler pinion I which in turn is engaged by a rack I" provided at the free end of a rockarm I96 turning on the rod or axle I 14. From the hub of rockarm I" extends a second arm I91 through which actuation is performed in part by a resilient device. Thus a hollow link part I98 is pivoted to the arm I91 and engages with a rod I, the two constituting a swingable link, the rod being surrounded by a spring 290 and sliding in a bushing or collar "I. The spring confined between I" and!" tends to throw outward the arm I91 and eflect the opening of the lap gripper, limited by a suitable stop. The collar The gripper closing movements are efiected through a follower or roller "I mounted on the rockarm I and engaging the shaped periphery of a fixed cam or'disk "I. The cam thus opposes the spring and determines the timed opening and closing actions.

-The opening cylinder or gripper carrier I50 makes one rotation for each half rotation of the main drum I. The cylinder carries a symmetrical pair of grippers III, each cooperating with a seat 2 for the gripping of the non-lap or outer half of the signature. The two grippers 2Il are mounted on a common rockshaft 2i! which may be rocked to cause the closing and opening of the grippers. The grippers III are symmetrically positioned at points corresponding with the positioning of the lap grippers I" on the main drum. This enables each gripper III, -in its deflected signature lap, thus facilitating the proper mechanical engaging or gripping of the of sleeve I'll. When the shaft is rocked the lap position in ,closlng movement, to reach into the recess of the extent indicated in Fig. 15, both the lap and opening grippers are caused to release the signature.- These releases leave the open signature in a condition of descending movement, so that after further travel to delivery the signature is discharged, to be received upon the traveling saddle in advance of each pair of pusher pins thereof. I The rocking of opener gripper shaft 2|! .may be by connections including a spring-pressed rockarm 2 with follower 2l5 bearing on fixed cam disk 2I6, mounted loosely on shaft iii and fixedly on bracket 2", allentirely analogous to the connections for operating the other grippers and the cam shaped to give the'described timing, as the gripper and follower revolve around it.

The operation or method may be reviewed as follows. The different signature supplies are shown stacked edgewise or upright in as many hoppers or signature boxes, the signatures being preferably bowed for stiffness, except as to -a few allowed to become substantially flat near the fronts Each hopper is constructed for or has means causing frontward travel of the horizontal stack, and a means or abutmentat the front to limit the travel, additional supplies being added at the rear at convenient intervals. At the front the successive signatures are extracted either upwardly or downwardly, through a gap above or below the abutment, for transfer and delivery. The preferred actions on each front signature are as follows, assuming upward extraction. The lower edge of the signature is detached or de flected frontward. This edge is then gripped and retracted downwardly and released. The lowered upper edge is then separated and deflected frontwardly, and it is then gripped and extracted from the hopper. These actions overlap considerably, so that one signature is extracted foreach cycle or main shaft rotation. Thus the separator may commence its separating action at the upper edge while the signature is being retracted at its lower edge; and while each signature is being extracted upwardly the lower edge of the next signature may be detached for retraction, etc. J By these actions a procession of signatures is drawn out of the hopper and transferred to a delivery point, for example to a saddle-gathering means. Each signature travels from extracting to opening point,its lap half against the transfer means or drum and its openable edge leading. The extracting drum, cooperating with the transfer tape I55, constitutes the transfer means. The opening actionsare as follows. Before reaching the opening point the lap gripper closes on the inner or lap half of the signature; which might occur at anytime after the extracting or main grippers have gripped the signature. At or before reaching the opening point, but not before the signature is under control of the transfer tapes, the extracting grippers relax to release the outer or non-lap half of the signature. At the opening point the opening device or gripperclosea upon the non-lap half, during the transfer travel, or on the run. thus. with further progress actingto pull away or divert this half inv a contrary to the continued travel .ofthelaphalf. The lap and opening grippers releasethe signature after the opening action is well begim, without waiting until it is finally deliveredpf'lhe advancing saddle mechanism receives, in each book space, one signature per cycle, so that each group-or book'is eachrva'riety oflignature.

built up of one of We claim:

1. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the first or front signature bears, and side gage members or walls arranged or spaced to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiffening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, and means to separate or deflect frontwardly each signature coming to front position and to grip and extract it from the stack for transfer to'a gathering or other mechanism.

I 2. A mechanism as in. claim 1 and wherein the abutment and signatures stand with a slight frontward slant from vertical. I

3. A mechanism as in claim 1 and wherein the side gages are arranged to bow the signatures mainly near their lower portions, leaving their top edges substantially straight.

4. A mechanism as in claim 1 and wherein the hopper bottom comprises a supporting member or belt adapted to travel frontward and the stack feeding means causes such travel thereof.

5. A mechanism as in claim 1 and wherein is a feeler displaced by the advance of the front signature and thereby controlling the stack feed. 6. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment of less height than the signatures against which the first or front signature bears, and side gage members or walls spaced sufficiently close together to bow the stacked signatures into a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiffening them to stand edgewise, the signature bowing portion of said gages terminating near the front thereby to release a front-group of several signatures to stand flatly against the abutment, means to feed the stack progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, and means to separate or deflect frontwardly each signature coming to front position and to grip and extract it from the stack for transfer to a gathering or other mechanism.

7. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having at its bottom an endless supporting belt, a front abutment against which the first or front signature bears, and side gage members or walls arranged to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stlffening them to stand edgewise, means to cause travel of said stack supporting belt to feed the stack progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, with means to coordinate such feed with the extraction of signatures, and

,means operating upon each signature coming to front position to grip and extract it from the stack for transfer to a gathering or other mechanism.

8. A mechanism as in claim land wherein the belt travel means includes a pawl and ratchet,

. and the means to coordinate the feed comprises abridged near the front to release therefrom a number of signatures that remain held edgewise between the curved signatures and the abutment.

10. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal I stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage members or walls arranged to cause the stacked signatures to as sume a rearwardly concave. curvature thereby stiffening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, means-operating upon each signature coming to front position to separate or deflect it frontwardly from the next signature, and a device arranged and operable for entering between such separated signature and the next signature behind and for at each side repressing the latter signature and those beyond thereby to retain them in the stack and to relieve the pressure on such separated front signature, to facilitate its extraction.

11. A signature feeding and gathering mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise with their closed back, edges down, said hopper having a'supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage members adapted to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiffening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward-in the hopper as the signatures are extracted, means for detaching frontwardly the lower portion of each front signature from those behind, repressingmeans for entering behind each such detached front signature and repressing those behind it to cooperate in the retracting 'or extracting of the front signature, retracting means for gripping the lower edge of each detached front signature and pulling it partly down and releasing it, means for separating theupper portion of each such retracted signature from those behind comprising a separator or finger entering downwardly behind the front signature and deflecting frontwardly its upper portion, extracting means for gripping the upper edge of each such separated signature and pulling itup and out of the hopper, and means for' transferring the extracted signature to a gathering mechanism.

12. A'signature feeding and gathering mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise with their closed bacl; edges down, said hopper having 'a supporting bottom. a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage members, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward in the hopper as the signatures are extracted, means for'detaching frontwardly the lower portion of each front signature from those behind, retracting means for gripping the lower edge of each detached front signature and pulling it partly down and releasing it, means for separating the upper zontal stack of signatures standing edgewise with theirclosed back edges down, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears, side gage members adapted to cause stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly coricave curvature thereby stifl'ening them to stand edgewise and a top edge stop member against which the top edge of the front signature bears, with a substantial gap between the abutment and stop member, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward in the hopper as the signatures are extracted, retracting means for gripping the lower edge of each front signature and pulling it partly down and releasing it, thus freeing the top edge thereof from said stop memher,- means for separating' the upper portion of each such retracted signature from those behind comprising a separator or finger entering downwardly behind the front signature and deflecting frontwardly its upper portion, extracting means for gripping the upper edge of each such separated signature and pulling it up and out of 'the hopper, and means for transferring the extracted signature to a gathering mechanism.

14. A mechanism as in claim 13 and wherein the separator has means for raising and lowering it and means for pressing it against the second signature while lowering.

15. A mechanism as in claim 13 and wherein the separator has means for raising and lowering it and means for pressing it against the second signature while lowering, and against the stop member when raised. 16. In a signature feeding and gathering apparatus a series of hoppers'each adapted to hold a horizontal stack of signatures standing edge wise and having a front abutment against which each front signature bears, in combination with mechanism for withdrawing the signatures from such series of stacks and accumulating them in advancing groups upon a traveling conveyor, said mechanism including means for separating away from each stack the edge of each of thesuccessive signatures thereof a continuouslyrotating transfer drum adjacent to each stack and having a peripheral signature gripper means thereon, timed connections for operating said gripper means to grip the separated edge of each sig 'nature and withdraw it from the stack by the rotation of the drum and to release it for delivery to the conveyor means, and movable tape means advancing with the drum periphery and signatures and operating to hold each signature in traveling contact upon the drum during the transfer including the signature travel after release by thegripper, and until final discharge from the drum for delivery to the conveyor.

17. A signature feeding and gathering machine oomprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise with their closed back edges down. said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears. andside gage members adapted to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardlyconcave curvature thereby stiffening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the staclr progressively frontward in the hopper as the signatures are extracted, retracting means for gripping the lower edge of eachfront signature and pulling it partly down andreleasing it, means for separating the upper portion of each such retracted signature from those behind comprising' a separator or finger entering downwardly wardly its upper portion, extracting means for gripping the openable upper edge of each such separated signature and pulling the signature up and out of the hopper, and means for transferring away each extracted signature for delivery ill-Ill a conveyor.

18. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a horiaontalstackofsignaturesstandingedgewisasaid hopper having a. supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears, means for feeding the stack progruslvely frontward in the hopper as the signature are extracted, means for separating the openable portion of each front signature "from those behind comprising a separator or finger entering behind the front signature and deflecting frontwardly its openable portion, extracting means for gripping the openable edge of each such separated signature and pulling the signa-- ture out the hopper, means for transferring each extracted signatureto-a delivery point above a saddle gathering and an' opening device operable adjacent the delivery point to engage one half of the openable edge oi. the signature during transfer and open it 'away from the other half for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

19. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine means for holding a supply of standing edgewise, with a front abutmenttowards which the supply may be fed delivery sh'addlewise upon the saddle.

20. A signature and saddle-gathering having a front abutment against which ,the front signature bears and means for each its openable carry it over and the front side of for opening and the signature 'supplyprogressively front-' 21,489 behind the em signature and defiecting front 22. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply of lap signatures standing edgewise with their closed edges down and their openableedges up, said hopper having a front abutment against which the front signature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, means for separating the entire thickness of the upper portion of each front signature from those behind and gripping such upper portion and extracting the signature upwardly out of the hopper, means .for transferring each such extracted signaturev to a delivery point adjacent a gathering saddle,

23. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a. hopper for holding a simply of lap signatures standing edgewise withtheir closed edges down andtheir openable edges up, said hopper having a front abutment against which the. front signature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, retracting means operating "to grip and partly lower each signatureby its closed lower edge, means for thereafter separating the entire thickness of the upper portion of'each frontsignature from, those behind and gripping such upper portion and extracting the signature upwardly out of the hopper, means for transferring each such extracted signature to a delivery point adjacent a gathering saddle, and an opening device adjacent the delivery point operable upon one half of the signature during transfer to divert it away from the other half by the aid of such lap, thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

24. The method of feeding of gathering sheets or signatures comprising stacking them edgewise while confining their opposite edges to cause them to bow themselves to aiford vertical stiifness, and causing frontward travel of the stack with a limit thereto, and extracting vertically each front signature for transfer as to a gathering operation, and adding signature supplies to the rear of the stack as needed. I

25. The method as in claim- 24 and wherein the greater part of the stacked signatures are bowed for'stlffness but a number at the front end are allowed to flatten, each i'rontmost one thereof being extracted.

- 1 26; The method of feeding or gathering sheets 2'7. The method of feeding or gathering sheets or signatures comprising stacking them edgewise while bowing the stacked signatures for stiffnessexcept for a group at'the front end, and causingfrontward travel of the stack with a limit thereto,

' and allowing such front group to flatten out and along which the signatures may shift frontward- 1y to the abutment, combined with a top edge stop member spaced above the abutment, and means to grip and extract each signature comprising a retractor for pulling down each signature to release its top edge from the stop member and an extractor for pulling the signature up and out by its top edge. 1

29. A signature gathering and saddle-stitching machine comprising a. hopper for each supply I of stacked signatures, a rotary drum for transferring in succession the signatures from each supply to a delivery point above a gathering saddle, said drum carrying a gripper adapted during drum rotation first to grip and extract each signature from the supply by its openable edge and thereafter to release such signature edge on the drum to permit opening and delivery to the saddle, and a signature opening means adjacent supply and transferring them to a deliverypoint above a gathering saddle, said drum carrying a gripper adapted during drum rotation first to grip each signature in the hopper by its openable edge thereby to extract it by the rotation of the drum, and thereafter to release such signature edge on the drum to permit opening and, delivery to the saddle, and a signature opening means adjacent to the drum delivery point comprising a device operable during transfer-to engage the outer half of the signature ,onthe run and draw it awayfrom the inner half and drum thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle. I I

31. A machine as in claim 30 and wherein the extracting and transferring drum is rotated in a direction to extract upwardly the successive signatures stacked with their openable edges up. thence to transfer each signature over frontwardly and downwardly for opening at the delivery int. 32. In'an automatic signature gathering machine ior extracting successive signatures from a series of supplies and transferring and delivering them straddlewise upon a saddle, a transfer and delivery mechanism for each signature supply embodying in combination, a continuously rotary drum aroundwhich each transferred signature travels with openable edge forward to the delivfry point above the saddle, a mechanical holder or gripper on the drum adapted to hold the inner half onlyof the signature during opening, an opening device comprising a revoiuble carrier or cylinder adjacent to the delivery point with drive means to revolve it continuously in coordination with the drum, a mechanical puller or gripper on the carrier adapted to engage on the run the outer half only of the signature and pull it down and away from the inner half and drum, and means for operating the holder and puller on thedrum and carrier respectively to hold and engage the respective signature halves during opening, and finally to release both for discharge of the opened signature.

33. A machine as in claim 32 and wherein is an endless tape means disposed to travel around part of the drum circumference and holding the entire thicknessof each signature thereon up to the delivery point, thence to switch across to the revoiuble cylinder, releasing the signature, and thence around part of the circumference of the cylinder and around idlers to complete its circuit.

34. In an automatic signature gathering machine for extracting successive lap signatures from a series of supplies and transferring and delivering them straddlewise upon a saddle, a

transferand delivery mechanism for each lap signature supply embodying in combination, a continuously rotary drum around which each transferred signature travels to 'the delivery point above the saddle with its lap edge forward and its lap half against the drum, a mechanical holder or lap gripper on the drum adapted to hold the lap half only of the signature during opening,

an opening device comprising a revoiuble carrier or cylinder adjacent to the delivery point with drive means to revolve ,it continuously in coordination with the drum, a mechanical puller or opening gripper on the carrier adapted to engage on the run the non-lap half-only of the signature and pull it away from the lap half and drum, and means for operating the holder and puller on the drum and carrier respectively to hold and engage the respective signature halves during opening, and finally to release both for discharge of the opened signature.

35. In an automatic signature gathering machine for extracting successive lap signatures from a series of supplies and transferring and delivering them straddlewise upon a saddle, a transfer and delivery mechanism for each signature supply embodying in combination, a continuous ly rotary drum around which each transferred signature travels to the delivery point above the on the run the outer or non-lap half only of the signature and pull it away from the lap half and drum, and means for operating the grippers on the drum and carrier respectively to cause the main gripper to release the signature before signature opening, the lap gripper to hold the inner half during opening, the opening gripper to engage the outer half before and hold it during opening, and finally the lap and opening grippers (I to release both halvesifor discharge of the opened 36. In an automatic signature gathering machine for extracting successive signatures from a series of supplies and transferring and delivering them straddlewise upon a saddle. a transfer and delivery mechanism for each signature supply embodying in combination, a rotary drum around which each nature with its openable edge forward is transferred to the delivery point above the saddle, a mechanical holding 'means or gripper on the drumada'pted during opening toholdtheinnerhalfofthesignatureina man'- ner to deflect inwardly-below the drum circumference a portion of the forward edge of such inner half thereby to produce'a recess between the inner and outer halves in position to receive an 'opening gripper, an opening device comprising a revoluble carrier adjacent to the delivery point with drive mean to revolve it continuously in coordination with the drum, an opening gripper on the carrier adapted to enter such recess therebyto-engageandgriptheouterhalfonlyof. signature and to pull it away from the inner and drum, and means for operating the means and srlmr on the drum and carrier"- signaturehalvesduringopening,andflnailyto releasebothfor discharge oftheopened signa- 3?.Amachineasinclaim36andwhereinto ing over to the carrier. travelingvpartly around-it andaroundidlerpulleysbacktothedrum.

delivery point saddle with its lap edge forward and its hp I said seat being located below the aiaao 4 opening device comprising a revoluble carrier adjacent to the delivery point with drive means to revolve it continuously in coordination with the drum, an opening gripper on the carrier adapted to enter such recess of each signature between the signature halves on the drum thereby to engage and grip thenon-lap half only of the signature and to pull it away from the lap half and drum, and means for operating the grippers on the drum and carrier respectively to hold and engage the respective signature halves during opening, and finally to release both for discharge of the opened. signature upon a saddle.

39. In an automatic signature gathering machine for extracting successive lap signatures from a series of supplies and transferring and delivering, them straddlewise upon a saddle, a

transfer and-delivery mechanism for each lap signature supply embodying in combination, a rotary drum around which each transferred signature travelsto the delivery point above the saddle with its. lap edge forward and its lap half inward against the drum, a main gripper on the drum adapted to hold the entire thickneu of the signature before opening, a lap gripper and seat therefor on the drum adapted to hold the outer or lap half only of the signature during opening,

circumference whereby the gripped portion of the signature lap is bent to form a recess between the two signature halves, an opening device comprising a revoluble carrier or cylinder adiac'ent to the delivery point-with drive means to revolve it in coordination with the drum, an opening gripper on the carrier adapted to enter such recess and engage the outer or non-lap half only of the signature and: pull it away from the lap half and drum, and means for operating the grippers on the drum and carrier respectively to cause the main gripper to release the signature before signature opening, the lap gripper to hold the inner half in bent condition during opening,

I the opening gripper to engage the outer half before and hold it during opening, and finally the lap and opening grippers to release both halves for discharge of the opened signature.

PAUL it. PAUL BCHWEIZER. I 

